Downame - BV209_D69_G6_1640_v1

Oro That tentations aregoodfor Gods children. eth himfelf unlef he be tempted. Befides, we are not fouldiers under the banner of Chrift , unleffe we fight with the flefh, the world, and the devil: and we fight not with them,unleffe we be tempted of them: neither muff we look to be crowned,unleffe firfl we flrive. Nay, if we be not tempted, it is a figne that he needeth not affault us. Laflly, all tentations turn to the good of thofe that love the Lord, Rom. 8. ferving either to humble them by the fight of their weakneffe,2.Cor. r 2.9. or to prevent finne in them, making them more wary and circumfped for the time to come; or to manifefl Gods graces in them, that they may be found approved , and fo become happy : For as James faith, chap. i . i 2. Bled is the man that endureth tentation : for when he [hall be found approved he (hall receive the crown of life, which the .Lord bath promired to tho[e that love him. We do not therefore pray that we be not tempted, but, that we be not led into tentation; that is , That when we are tempted the Lord would not leave us unto our felves, nor give us over to the tempter, nor fuffer us to be overcome in the tentation, nor to be tempted above our power:but that it would pleafe him to fla- bli/h to by his free /pmt, and minifter ftrength unto us, giving with the tentations an i ff ise that we may bear them. And fo our Saviour expoundeth himfelfin the words following, But deliver us from evil: Which, as bath been faid, are the expofition of the former. Tertullian,Claufula hxc interpretatur quid fit, Nè nos inducas in tentationem, hoc eft, fed erue nos à malo, This claufe interpreteth what this is, Lead us not in- to tentation, that is, but deliver t s fromevil. What is meant by, Deaver us from evil. By